Barry Coulter
Wayne Stetski is just back from an official trip to democracy's front lines.
The Kootenay-Columbia Member of Parliament joined the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development for a 12-day diplomatic mission to four countries – Ukraine, Latvia and Poland in Eastern Europe, and Kazakhstan in Central Asia.
The committee — four Liberal MPs, two Conservatives and Stetski for the NDP — set out to learn about key political, security and other issues in these countries through meetings with a variety of stakeholders to understand the Canadian interests that are at stake, the kinds of assistance and engagement that countries in these regions are seeking from Canada, and the optimal approach for Canada's policies toward them.
"It's been 25 years since the disbanding of the old Soviet Union, and these countries all border Russia or are really influenced by Russia in different ways," Stetski told the Townsman upon his return to Canada. "So the purpose of the trip was to see where these countries are in terms of democratic reform and economic development, and to hear their concerns with Mr. Putin and his aggression, and also Canada's role in these countries."
The political and economic transitions these countries have experienced over the past 25 years have been distinct and varied.
"A lot of former Soviet countries had a lot of corruption as part of their day-to-day workings of government at all levels," Stetski said. "Ukraine is really working hard to get rid of that corruption. A couple of really good examples — in the past year they've fired 25,000 policemen and have hired 11,000 new ones."
Stetski said Canada has a contingent of RCMP officers in Ukraine training the trainers on how to run a proper police force. You have to be 35 years old or younger before you can even apply, because this revolution away from corruption and towards democracy is being led by youth in Ukraine.
It's to the point where Civil Society [a collective term for the many non-governmental groups that have sprung up in recent years in Ukraine] drafts legislation and gives it to members of parliament to implement.
"They've also fired all their Supreme Court judges, and they're looking to fire another 2,000 judges over the course of this year and replace them with non-corrupt individuals."
This push towards a more open, more democratic society is taking place in the shadow of ongoing conflict with Ukraine's powerful neighbour Russia.
At the same time, Russia invaded and took over Crimea, and the war in the east Ukraine is ongoing.
"They're shelling each other across this artificial line, called the Line of Contact. It's created almost a million refugees, but they aren't on the world's radar because they're not in camps. They're being housed and dispersed in different ways, but there is an active war going on."
If you are engaged in warfare, it makes it hard to focus on some of your other priorities, Stetski said.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) looms large in Eastern Europe, and regardless of opinions being bruited about in Washington about the alliance's relevance, NATO is valued in Latvia and Poland (NATO members) and Ukraine.
"They really believe that the presence of NATO is the best deterent when it comes to Russian aggression, along with the Western sanctions that are currently in place," Stetski said.
"Latvia and Poland, two countries who are already members of NATO, believe the alliance is key to maintaining peace."
Ukraine's plan is to upgrade its military to NATO standards by 2020, when they will formally apply to join the alliance.
Stetski added that Canada needs to have a presence and an interest in what is happening in the rest of the world. "There lot's of concerns in all those countries with President Trump, and where he's going or not going in terms of the future, and what impact that will have on trade — because trade is actually is often used as a rationale for peace.
"Canada is so appreciated in these countries on all levels — and we met with everybody from government people right up to prime ministers, with ambassadors, with military and business interests, with Civil Society. They were all so appreciative that we were there, that Canada cared about what's going on there.
Stetski noticed a couple of interesting points in Kazakhstan.
"The College of the Rockies is in Kazakhstan working with the University of Asia in developing their international education program, and I met with one of the directors [of the University of Asia]. It was nice to be able to say 'I'm from Cranbrook, home of the College of the Rockies.'"
Stetski was also told by the Canadian Ambassador that the most famous player in hockey-mad Kazakhstan was former Kootenay Ice star Nigel Dawes (Ostana Snow Leopards).
So it's a small world after all.
Stetski concluded that in spite of the pressures the region is facing, democracy is alive and well, and progressing.
"Ukraine is making great strides, and its democratic movement is being led by youth, which I find very exciting. Latvia is very much a democratic country, as is Poland, though there is some concern that Poland has taken some steps backwards [recently].
Brexit is of concern, and the election of Donald Trump — everyone is waiting to see what happens on these fronts, Stetski said.
A report on the trip will be drafted, and sent to parliament and the government with observations and recommendations, based on the travel. All members including Stetski will be involved in that report writing, "and then I'll be done with the committee."
"We deal with a lot of these issues in Parliament — everything from trade deals to whether Canada should be sending military to these zones, or RCMP trainers. Our resources and our people going into these countries. Talked to government members, Civil Society members, dawn to dusk.
"It's all about showing Canada's support for these countries and then talking about trade and talking about peace."
Further information on the Committee's current work is available on its website.